Ladies only. TMI question

athenaheim
athenaheim Posts: 496 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay ladies I have a serious question for all of you. When I first started losing weight Aunt Flo would visit more often. Well now it is at the point where it is getting heavier and I am back to cramping and doubled over in pain. Have any of yall had this issue?

Replies

  • Djbass728
    Djbass728 Posts: 71 Member
    I need a little more info to offer advice. How old are you? How uch were you weighing when you atrated MFP and where is your weight now. Have you changed your eating patterns a lot - if you are not getting enough magnesium that may contribute to your cramping situation.
  • laurynwithawhy
    laurynwithawhy Posts: 385 Member
    Hmm, not really, but I have been on birth control for years. I did notice when I was out of shape or hadn't exercised in a few weeks that my cramps were worse. And also, when I had an ovarian cyst I would bleed like crazy and have horrible cramps. Are you on any birth control? It could be a hormone issue.
  • athenaheim
    athenaheim Posts: 496 Member
    I need a little more info to offer advice. How old are you? How uch were you weighing when you atrated MFP and where is your weight now. Have you changed your eating patterns a lot - if you are not getting enough magnesium that may contribute to your cramping situation.

    I am 27. I started at the weight of 259 and I am currently at 233. I have changed my eating quite a bit but I have always had bad cramping issues.
  • athenaheim
    athenaheim Posts: 496 Member
    Hmm, not really, but I have been on birth control for years. I did notice when I was out of shape or hadn't exercised in a few weeks that my cramps were worse. And also, when I had an ovarian cyst I would bleed like crazy and have horrible cramps. Are you on any birth control? It could be a hormone issue.

    No I am not. I always forget to take the pill when I am on it.
  • brevislux
    brevislux Posts: 1,093 Member
    What have you stopped eating?
  • halffullpgh
    halffullpgh Posts: 74 Member
    You could have issues that are beyond working out. Have you seen the lady doctor and talked to her about this? If not, you should.
  • zombiekookie
    zombiekookie Posts: 40 Member
    I get the opposite effect when I work out. I get more average periods.
    But, my cycle has always been out of wack.
  • athenaheim
    athenaheim Posts: 496 Member
    The last time I saw the doctor they told me that my body was freaking out because it didnt know how to react to the change.
    As for the stopping eating. A lot. Mainly the fattening greasy foods like chips, candy, most fried foods.
  • NaomiJFoster
    NaomiJFoster Posts: 1,450 Member
    If you were 8 or 9 years older, I'd suggest that it could be the start of perimenopause. But that's not likely at your age. But it also doesn't sound like you're at a weight range that would would interfere with your cycle like that. I don't think you need to rush to get into the doctor immediately, but you should try to get there pretty soon. And start documenting your start and stop dates, how heavy the bleeding is each day, and the intensity of the cramps.
  • morielia
    morielia Posts: 169 Member
    You probably need to go see your doctor. It could be so many things. Losing weight/being heavy/a billion other things can change your normal hormone balance. There's a hormone called prostaglandin that can increases uterine contractions. I'm obviously not a doctor, but it's possible that your weight loss is resulting in increased levels of prostaglandin, causing you more painful periods. That doesn't really explain the heavier flow though. You could have something more serious like fibroids or endometriosis. Best not to chance it.
  • NordicAlien
    NordicAlien Posts: 110 Member
    This seems quite unusual - in premed classes we were told that periods usually get lighter as you lose weight and heavier and more painful as you gain. This has held true for me and all of my dieting friends.

    I'd echo the advice to see a gynae. It may be something as simple as a vitamin deficiency if you've cut your food intake a lot. If you're concerned about the cost of a doctors visit you could try taking a women's health supplement for a few months. You can get them from a drugstore, but you do need to take them everyday. I have one that's mostly calcium, magnesium and zinc, with a few other minerals and vitamins, and a second one that's just starflower (borage) oil, and they ease the cramping a lot for me. I also eat raw linseeds and pumpkin seeds during my monthlies, which help the cramps and also my mood swings. Might be worth a try. If you don't get any relief after a couple months you should really see a doc though.

    Sorry I couldn't be more help. I've never heard of what you're describing.
  • ceejay000
    ceejay000 Posts: 402 Member
    Were your periods regular before you started losing weight? If not, you may have been having anovulatory cycles (menstrual cycles without ovulation), and now that you're losing weight, your hormones are kicking back into action and your periods are becoming more regular. One sign of hormones acting correctly is actually having cramps...

    If your periods were regular before and now they're not, I'm not sure what to tell you. I'd give it a month or two, but if your cycle hasn't become more regular, I'd see your doctor.
  • NaomiJFoster
    NaomiJFoster Posts: 1,450 Member
    Remember, too, that it is very natural for a woman's cycle to change as she ages. Your period will be very different in your teens, 20s, 30s, and 40s. That's just a natural part of aging. What used to be 'regular' for you, no longer happens. Something new takes its place and becomes the new 'normal'. Then, ten years later, it all changes again. It may just be purely coincidental, and you've come to a point in your life where your period would have changed anyway, but you're noticing in now more accutely and wondering if its tied to weight loss or diet. Maybe, maybe not. Ask the doctor.
  • athenaheim
    athenaheim Posts: 496 Member
    Were your periods regular before you started losing weight? If not, you may have been having anovulatory cycles (menstrual cycles without ovulation), and now that you're losing weight, your hormones are kicking back into action and your periods are becoming more regular. One sign of hormones acting correctly is actually having cramps...

    If your periods were regular before and now they're not, I'm not sure what to tell you. I'd give it a month or two, but if your cycle hasn't become more regular, I'd see your doctor.

    My periods have never been regular. I have always had irregular periods and bad cramping. When I first started my period at the age of 12 I was put on bc because of the cramping.
  • fun_b
    fun_b Posts: 199 Member
    I have had this for years but I found an improvement after I lost weight over the last few months. I have not had the stabbing pains for the first time and the periods are not as heavy.
  • Djbass728
    Djbass728 Posts: 71 Member
    If you were 8 or 9 years older, I'd suggest that it could be the start of perimenopause. But that's not likely at your age. But it also doesn't sound like you're at a weight range that would would interfere with your cycle like that. I don't think you need to rush to get into the doctor immediately, but you should try to get there pretty soon. And start documenting your start and stop dates, how heavy the bleeding is each day, and the intensity of the cramps.



    I agree with this lady. I thought you might be older - but at your age these symptoms deserve a visit to your gyn. I will say at your age I did have a couple of periods like you are describing......hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Donna
  • MelStren
    MelStren Posts: 457 Member
    My periods seem to get heavier when I'm drinking a lot of water..... I have changed my eating habits over the last 3 years, I eat much cleaner now. And my exercise routines have become more intense with an hour of cardio 3 x a week and heavy lifting 3x a week. BUT it's my water intake that affects how heavy my period is. Exercise seems ease my cramps.

    Edited to add that I'll be 45 yrs old in Jan.
  • NaomiJFoster
    NaomiJFoster Posts: 1,450 Member
    My periods seem to get heavier when I'm drinking a lot of water..... I have changed my eating habits over the last 3 years, I eat much cleaner now. And my exercise routines have become more intense with an hour of cardio 3 x a week and heavy lifting 3x a week. BUT it's my water intake that affects how heavy my period is. Exercise seems ease my cramps.

    Edited to add that I'll be 45 yrs old in Jan.

    I'll be 45 in May. Periods at this age are a completely different situation than anyone had ever warned me about, lol. Exercise absolutely makes a difference. Getting motivated to get up off the couch to *do* that exercise on the first couple days...that's another story.
  • athenaheim
    athenaheim Posts: 496 Member
    I do drink a lot more water now then I used to.
  • DontStopB_Leakin
    DontStopB_Leakin Posts: 3,863 Member
    Go to the doctor. The internet is not an appropriate place to seek medical advice.
  • RockstarPunch
    RockstarPunch Posts: 203 Member
    Increase Protien and Iron* Yay for beets!
    I find when I increase those at any weight my it eases the cramps. I also READ that staying away from sugars pre-cycle helps too
  • jennifershoo
    jennifershoo Posts: 3,198 Member
    It's hormonal imbalance. Go to an endocrinologist and have your hormones tested. There are so many hormones in the body and they change according to when you are in your cycle that nobody will be able to diagnostic you on this forum. You need multiple testings. Maybe you'll discover that you are estrogen dominant and need more progesterone. Who knows. Go test!

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